12314426R0001 RFI - Draft Performance Work Statement_PWS.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS)

Contents Project Title

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

2.0 Definitions

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

5.0 Government Furnished

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards

11.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Attachment ........................................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Project Title Assessment of the Implications of Reassigning the Food for Peace Program from USAID to USDA

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

America’s farmers and ranchers are the best in the world – blessed with the most bountiful land, armed with the most innovative techniques, and supported by an agricultural policy that encourages bold approaches and protects against risk.

Since the advent of the Marshall Plan in 1945, it has been the policy of the United States to share its agricultural bounty with those less fortunate around the world, using America's agricultural surpluses to provide food assistance around the world, broaden international trade, and advance U.S. international diplomacy.

The creation, authorization, and appropriation of Food for Peace falls under Agricultural Programs (i.e. Title VII of U.S.

Code) rather than Foreign Assistance (i.e. Title XXII), but it has been implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) since that agency’s establishment in 1962. Regardless of which agency manages such program, it is imperative that it support efforts to improve administrative efficiencies, transparency, and integration of American agricultural producers and processors.

The contractor will provide a detailed report outlining the process and agency needs to support a relocation (transfer) of the Food for Peace program from the U.S. Agency for International Development to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) within the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

2.0 Definitions

Terms defined at 7 USC § 1732, 2 CFR Subpart 200.1, and 22 CFR Subpart 211.2 retain those definitions.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

3.1 Report

The contractor shall conduct necessary research for, and prepare, a report and accompanying presentation that assesses the process and needs within the USDA to successfully relocate (transfer) and operate the Food for Peace program, should Congress direct such a relocation of administration from USAID to USDA. It is recognized that additional capacity, processes, contracts and authorities at USDA may be needed to support a seamless transition between agencies, should this occur.

The report shall address USDA's capacity needs pre- and post-relocation, such as space requirements, IT infrastructure, and staffing levels and staff expertise, ensuring the relocation supports efficient operations, as well as a comparison to the operation of the program as it existed at USAID in fiscal year 2024. Specifically, the report shall address:

Justification for Relocation: The rationale behind a relocation, such as cost savings, attracting and retaining talent, or improving operational efficiency. This should include a comprehensive assessment of benefits and drawbacks to relocation as compared with the status quo. In acknowledgement of the distinct workstreams that exist within Food for Peace, the contractor shall note, where appropriate, whether there is a significant difference between “Title II,” “Title III,” and “Title V” programming; the FEWS Net program; and potential synergies with comparable programming streams already housed in USDA.

Cost Analysis: A comprehensive cost analysis detailing expenses associated with the relocation, including facility costs, moving expenses, and any potential impact on employee compensation or benefits. The report should clearly indicate which costs are “one-time” and which will be reoccurring. The report should clearly describe the costs, or savings, associated with the distribution of staff among a U.S. headquarters and overseas offices, considering the established staffing pattern and a proposed future staffing pattern.

Statutory Requirements: Changes or adjustments that would be either necessary or beneficial in authorizing and/or appropriations legislation for USDA to be successful in assuming the program, given the differences in other authorizing and appropriations legislation impacting each agency.

Impact on Agency Operations: How a relocation would impact USDA’s day-to-day operations, including any potential disruptions, changes in work processes, or impacts on service delivery to established programs. This shall consider the organizational structure of USDA, and current programming priorities and distribution.

Space Requirements: The space requirements for USDA, including square footage, office configurations, and any specialized needs. In assessing this factor, the contractor shall remain cognizant of USDA’s proposed office footprint in the National Capital Region (NCR), as well as space availability or constraint at U.S. Embassies and Missions overseas.

IT Infrastructure: The IT infrastructure needs of USDA, including network capacity, server requirements, and data security.

Staffing Levels and Transfer of Staff Expertise: The report will address how the relocation might affect staffing levels, including any potential for downsizing, hiring, or re-allocating personnel with program expertise and must include a discussion of the staffing expertise that will need to be relocated from the United States Agency for International Development to the Department of Agriculture.

Employee Support: The support provided to employees during the relocation process, such as relocation assistance, training, and communication initiatives.

Operational Planning: Protocols and an operations plan for management of and participation with humanitarian responses operations, including for Disaster Assistance Response Teams, between USAID, the Department of State, and USDA.

Contractual Approaches: The appropriateness, and relative merits, of different approaches for providing assistance under Food for Peace, as delineated by the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, and authorized by Food for Peace statutory authorities.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Document the viewpoints of program stakeholders. The scale of the Food for Peace program is such that many organizations have an interest in its operation. In addition to a variety of units within the U.S. Federal Government, these include private voluntary organizations, international organizations (also known as Public International Organizations or Foreign Public Entities), friendly foreign governments, U.S.

universities and research institutions, the U.S. merchant marine, U.S. transportation and logistics providers, and U.S. farmers and ranchers.

It is anticipated that the contractor will employ a variety of methods, including but not limited to desk reviews, interviews with stakeholders, reviews of systems, etc. USDA will be available for consultation and feedback throughout, but the contractor is expected to produce the report.

A draft report shall be presented to USDA no later than June 12, 2026. USDA will provide comments, questions, and feedback not later than July 10, 2026. The final report shall be presented to USDA no later than August 14, 2026.

The report shall not offer a specific or conclusive recommendation as to whether such a relocation should occur.

3.2 Presentation of Final Report

The contractor shall present the final report to representatives invited by USDA, at a government-arranged facility in Washington, DC, on a date to be mutually agreed within August or September 2026. This presentation will outline the findings of the report and provide an opportunity for those personnel to ask specific questions and seek additional clarification. USDA may schedule meetings, briefings and/or consultations with Congress, other U.S. Government Agencies, or public stakeholders to present their findings. The contractor may be asked to participate in those engagements, on a date specified within August or September 2026.

3.3 Public Report

The contractor shall prepare a derivative report which omits sensitive information about agency and stakeholder operations, personnel, systems, and facilities. This report shall be suitable for being made available to the general public.

3.4 Progress Reports

The contractor shall, biweekly (i.e. every fourteen days), provide a summary of progress during that period. These reports may also provide a vehicle through which the contractor can express notable milestones, raise concerns for awareness, or ask questions of the agency.

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

Key Deliverables

Item No. Deliverable Objective Due 1A Draft report As described in section 3.1 June 12, 2026 1B Final report As described in section 3.1 August 14, 2026 2 Presentation As described in section 3.2 as agreed, but not later than

September 30, 2026 3 Public report As described in section 3.3 August 28, 2026 4 Progress reports As described in section 3.4 Not less than biweekly

5.0 Government Furnished

USDA will:

Conduct the background investigation(s) required by section 8.0, and will provide logical access to relevant USDA computer systems;

Facilitate contacts with stakeholders both within and outside the U.S. government;

Arrange for one or more facilities in the Washington, DC area to enable the presentation(s) described in section

3.2; and As appropriate, escort contractor personnel visiting USDA facilities.

6.0 Travel

The majority of work will be performed at the contractor’s site consistent with the offeror’s normal business practices and policies. USDA anticipates that contractor personnel will seek to interview U.S. Government personnel and other stakeholders during the period of performance; this may take place through any suitable means, including virtual meetings if appropriate. The contractor shall indicate their proposed approach.

Section 3.2 (deliverable 2) requires contractor personnel to be present in Washington, DC, for approximately three (3) consecutive business days in August or September 2026.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

The contractor shall propose key personnel who, individually and in combination, have the breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience to undertake this study. Personnel must understand the multifaceted nature of international agriculture programs and appropriately incorporate the salient interests of stakeholders who may hold discordant perspectives.

8.0 Security Requirements

All work under this contract is unclassified. The contractor shall ensure that all information is safeguarded against unauthorized access. Contractor employees performing work under this contract require Public Trust (Moderate Risk) background investigations (also known as T2 background investigation) issued by USDA prior to beginning work under the contract.

9.0 Data Rights

Data collected and products delivered to USDA will be considered property of the U.S. Government.

10.0 Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the contractor shall ensure, to the greatest extent technically practical, that the report produced is accessible to persons with disabilities, including but not limited to persons who require the use of screen readers, and persons who are unable to use a mouse for navigation. More information about Section 508, including current standards, can be found at https://www.section508.gov/develop/web- content/

11.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Performance Objective

Required Task or Deliverable

Performance Standard Method of Surveillance

Positive/Negative Incentive % for NOT meeting the Task

PWS Item 3.1A – Draft Report

Draft report submitted to USDA by June 12, 2026

Report covers all points addressed in the PWS; demonstrates that the contractor has undertaken a reasonably comprehensive amount of study; and has few grammatical or formatting errors that do not materially impede reading.

COR and other USDA staff will review report

Late delivery: 1% of contract value per day

Material failure to meet specs: 10% of contract value plus late delivery penalty until corrected

PWS Item 3.1B – Final Report

Final report submitted to USDA by August 14, 2026

Report covers all points addressed in the PWS; demonstrates that the contractor has undertaken a reasonably comprehensive amount of study; is realistic about time and cost of a transition and implementation; addresses any comments/feedback provided in the draft; and is free of grammatical or formatting errors.

COR and other USDA staff will review report

Late delivery: 2% of contract value per day

Material failure to meet specs: 20% of contract value plus late delivery penalty until corrected

PWS Item

3.2 – Presentation

Presentation(s) delivered no later than September 30, The presentation is thorough and addresses all points, with the bulk of time given to points of greater salience or controversy; and provides sufficient information

COR will attend the presentation(s)

Failure to deliver as scheduled: 10% of the contract value

Failure to deliver at all:

20% of contract value

PWS Item

3.3 – Public Report

Report submitted to USDA by August 28, 2026

Report is sufficient to provide transparency into the process but does not divulge sensitive information; and is free of grammatical or formatting errors.

COR and other USDA staff will review report

Late delivery: 0.5% of contract value per day

Material failure to meet specs: 5% of contract value, plus late delivery penalty until corrected

PWS Item

3.4 – Progress Reports

Reports submitted to USDA biweekly

Report is submitted and provides adequate assurance to the government that the contractor is expected to meet required deadlines

COR will review reports

Late submission: 0.25% of contract value per instance

Non-submission: 0.5% of contract value per instance